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WA party donations down ahead of election

The West Australian Liberal Party has received more than half of all political donations and gifts in the financial year leading up to the March 9 election.

The Electoral Commission says the Liberals received almost $3.9 million compared with the Australian Labor Party's total of $1.85 million and the Greens' $355,000.

But the National Party was the biggest improver, doubling donations and income in 2011-2012 to $1.33 million from its usual average of $600,000.

Despite having no members in parliament, the Australian Christians have also bolstered their financial support, from an average of about $200,000 a year to $281,000 this year.

The Liberal Party received the largest single gift of $250,000 from Furama Pty Ltd.

The ALP scored its two biggest contributions from union groups United Voice and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association which totalled $215,000.

WA Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately said overall party income was down from the previous financial year when $11.2 million was received, compared with the $7.6 million revealed in the latest figures.

Last year, the top 10 donations were each over $100,000, he said in a statement on Sunday.

"It is cyclical. At both state and federal levels, last financial year was between elections," Mr Gately said.

"But with potentially big donations in the lead-up to the March state poll I would expect receipts to jump significantly in the current year."